As former Board President Vicki Friedman knows all too well, there comes a time in many of our lives when we must become a caregiver for someone that we love. How do you navigate this new dynamic, and what does it mean for your new identity? Allow Vicki’s words and beautiful illustrations to guide and comfort you as you face a new door opening in your life, one that may lead to beauty.
In Kim Kluxen Meredith’s book Listen for the Whispers, Kim tells the story of the tragic car accident that created an entirely new world in which she needed to learn how to survive and thrive. Injuries from the accident leave Kim’s husband a quadriplegic in his final days, as she cares for him in addition to her two bereaved children. When grief feels overwhelming, Kim tells the story of finding hope and healing by ‘listening to the whispers’ from inside her soul. Her inspiration is contagious, and this is a wonderful read!
Grace on the Ledge, a memoir by Patricia Thompson Collamer, tells the story of Patricia’s 86-year-old mother having a stroke and the aftermath of that event. As Patricia deals with constant caregiving, late night doctor’s phone calls, and trips back and forth between the hospital and her father’s house, she also takes us back to the 1960’s when her mother was a vibrant, independent, musical woman who had her whole life ahead of her. This book is a beautiful insight into being an adult child on the verge of losing a parent and will inspire your own healing and growth!
When someone you love is diagnosed with a serious illness and you are worried about how to care for them, it is easy to forget how to also care for yourself. In Earl Grollman’s Caring and Coping when your Loved One is Seriously Ill, Grollman provides clear and direct guidance on how to share the emotional load you are carrying and ensure that you don’t burn yourself out in the process!
When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, questions can burn in a person’s mind about how to prioritize time and goals. A Tiny Boat at Sea by Izetta Smith is a simple but powerful tool to guide families through this experience. A Tiny Boat at Sea includes a checklist to go through with your family as you seek to find rituals and special experiences that will last long after a life ends. This is a must-have resource for any family facing a terminal illness.